The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-25

III ICp NlllSlOlUH I.\t Ulb NY
~ Ef; birthday. ! almost wish
%~HlFNl was alittlc child again,
"ISSMLS and knew YOU would 20
tSE~ to the woods Tor Il holly
S3c2ssS tree and have il in the
.SHS ~ ~ dining-room, all dressed
20 E&T with bits OF candle, pop
JASSrp corn and bright tissue
YAAsSE&~ paper. Oh, nurNCy, I'm
GNl,Ms~ 50 old seventeen tumor-
FS%SD' row. Think | must soon
900 he too old to bc happy; ut
least I'm sure mamma is,
and these holiday times she always seems
more miserable than any other
"Ncycr Won mine, honey, | lows ~ Z
won't alters be So. ncrc's u good time
a'comin' YOU mark niny's word, dcrc's Il
good time Ucomin' iur Us all
eyes, hut I'm tired waiting for IT
you've said that So long. Where's the
gallant knight YOU said would comc with
his snowy paliry, his velvet robes and
diamonds, for me. | have not seen him
vet, nor even heard the tramp Of his
chargers iC,t, Us YOU said would, long
bciorr he arrived
"Wcll, chile, it's time he WIS hero, sho
'nough; hut, den, he's houn' ter be som'cIs
ON dc road 'twiNt you an Prov deuce,
cause | knows he's acomin'. Use seed
him many u time in my missions an.
dreams. An cs for de vclycts an dimuns,
yo' mas got plenty o dem put away lur
YOU. She ui'cn SAY ter me, 'nny, you'S
'blccgcd ter go an sell som'pn q piece q
silver or som'pn IN give up auythin'
'ccptn de di'mons; thcy's u kccpin' for
Miss lcRl.'
"Wcll, | don't care much about those
things, but | would like 10 know some.
thing Of the people and world outside
these old worm eaten walls. Sometimes
| fancy myself q fairy princess, doomed
hy some spell always to live here, and
mover, never TO cross the confines ul our
own grounds, OF yourso ! would uu'
leave mamma, but had II not been ior my
love for her, | am sure | would have flown
away long ago.
"Shc doau want ger ter see lie wurl,
chile, she says yer wouldn't be- uulhin'
hut po' white folks; dats de reason hcr
keeps Yer 50 close here an teaches Yer
hcrsc'f, an won't let yer =" %noNhcucs r..
All dc big folks ccpin M what Use Ten
live noun here hes sole out an gone.
Nobody hut trash In the nc~igh,rhood
now, an mistis ruthvr sec yer dead an.
buried dan 'ro,iatin' Wid dem
The ic WIS nickrring low on the broad
stone hearth. but the red cmhrrs gloWuJ
hot and bright Their lurid light ponc
tmtcd impcricotly the large apartment.
and showed In dim relief the great carved
mahogany hcdstcad, the shining bras
table, the long mirrors, the worn velvet
carpet and the rare pictures on the walls
At tho Windows, faded aud ihrUldharr
hung In long soft folds OH silkon draper
les, aud above the mantle a cabinet viii
. ancient brio a brIc, each piece q curio
| And the girl. lsal Struthrr, sitting IN th,
p low rocker before the iirr, clad Ia u iidv,
10 lrock oi some rich fabric, made in the fash
y ion IT a vanished age, looked like q iigup
X Just stepped irpm uuc OF the gillcd frames
g 80 quaint and unlike other girls She Was.
Alas, tic poor old house. her home
;. once the grindcst In the county, once IA,
i center ~ q giy, thuughtlrss c,rlr, IL
whose halls gathered the knirhtlicst NJ ~,
southern gentry, the iaiucst ul southern
women, WAS nov ardin. Only n win
l in~habiublc, the grand salon empty. de
r. spoiled, deserted. The dining hall silcn
= and unused. Only the frequent sale Of ~,
. time Nnluahlcs supplied the needs NJ Tia
{ mother AMI daughter Only the faithful
| service Of the one retainer left Ia Keel
b them from suffering. "Diuui, iic hunt
pss, Mn. Strpthcr had called her. Tor ~.
Himnrc old woman, halt Indian, Nh,
p claimed a. he, often tool lrum IL n'stinl
{ place the time worn iuWliug piece, shoul
dctcdit bmycly. aud went III to the woods
, Returning. there was always something &
r. add Ia the sclnty board aud help iill thu
beautiful dishes.
The day before Christmas sawncd hfigh
? and cold, but nothing daunicd; Dian.
worked away chcCrly, cutting aud bring
p ing In wood enough 10 llrt through ~.
. holidays. she said, nnd making thc ru0m
~ iwsh ns possible for the festive SEASON.
lRal spent the morning. ~ usual, rad
d ing with her mother, aud the latter Ecirrcll
r lifted her head when Diana appeared u
the door saving. "l'm gwinc now, misii-
- I'm ukiu' somr'pn long and lll luni
4 sDm,'pn hack The mistress bowed lu,
! team hllrl her slill beautiful eyes. -,
not tpll me- What IL b., Diana / dp NO.
wish ~ see the thing | have loved pas
iuto ihC hands ui strangers. II seems liz
decoration. SON thrro will BE- uothin.
% left Ia bIrtor Then
Coon the faithful Diana WIS lmIging ut
b her way a. the town four miles distant
with The gun sluug across her th0ullu
and % strk upon her back. 4 p.rtup-Iu.
| figure -lr WIS tall, ruunt and supple
I despite her sixty years. Two harrH Fhl
r. hlyyi and 70 hall dozen partridge. which
we've good enough 10 allow themselves e
. h. shot ON to- ground. These shc carrie,
u with h,r tu the village, and, together will
Il IL mrr piece of silver said lpr u small sum
i Then -hc nllcd hcr sack with needed prl
J. visions ior ihr little family,
u AN u prrsoni Tor ms young mistis,'
}. shr added. after counting over her posses
~ -ious. II duln mine Christmas IN much
but ~ her biriday. an Diuy u,yDr set ha
lot dat Ia-4 by widput aomopu Money.
mighty zkcrcD now, an no mistake, bu
b ~ jos' buy her e. putty blue nhhun iu
IS Ter tc back her long yullcr hair TIE
afternoon was iur advanced when biunl
- turned her siDIahpmcNarl, nndfhu ,iIttu,
uut ~ brisk pare. Accomplishing hal
3. lhc distance, she went muw slowly nn.
4 lsgu to watch iUr game 10 carry back 90
thc Christmas dinner.
II 'spmo' pn nice | mus iok homo. gpmc'pi
81 himsf NOT umhhit. wu-h ! could N,
\. some dem innIu white folks turkeys VIVA
q uHs down In de- wupis. ldc wing un
81 mighty muck. ruu-huurc ar no uunshuncc
b. d. wuh uN,s my -Wcct m'siiH q heap bet
ter Twin nor she giis'
Notwithstanding her determination, Incl
4 WIS auiust her nothing but rabbits cam.
IN her way. aud any two of these were II
n the sack ou her hack, aud the early wintc
twilight gathering rapidly.
~ Only u mile irpm home and only tw.
" rabbits for the Christmas dinner. 81
WIS growing desperate. What vas 10 b
II dUnci
She paused q moment. Surely some
i Ihinr Va mnAinR not NrrN lar nNnY.